82 Continental Rim / Hub upgrade
 

Hello Bike Forums. I was thinking about upgrading the rims and hubs on my 82 Schwinn Continental. What is the best rim / hub upgrade to buy? Currently they are stell rims with high flange aluminum hubs. I'm pretty sure they are original to the bike. I would like better bearings with high pressure tires for a lower rolling resistance. Any ideas? I would like to just buy a set and drop them in. I don't want to change the derailer or anything of that sort. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Issue #1: You have 27" wheels, which are becoming rare in a 700C world. If your brake caliper slots will allow you to lower your brake pads by 4mm each, you can switch to 700C wheels.

Issue #2: Although the front axle overlock dimension has been standardized for many years, rear axles have gotten progressively wider. Remove your rear wheel and measure the distance between the inner faces of the two dropouts. If it is 126mm, you will have alot more options than if it is 120mm.

Issue #3: If you switch to a 6-speed or 7-speed freewheel with your new 126 or 128mm rear wheel, your right TwinStik shift lever will not have adequate throw to cover the full range. I addressed this by grinding down the stop to allow the lever to move forward past vertical.